Families quit because of THIS… and gym owners don’t realize it.
What started as one kids program grew into multiple thriving businesses across gymnastics, swim, dance, ninja, and early childhood. In this episode of The Ninjas Way Podcast, I sit down with Lynn Ledford, founder of Cali Kids and creator of Sweet Peas Gymnastics, to break down what it actually takes to build programs families stay with for years.
From retention and early childhood strategy to evaluations, marketing, and community building, Lynn shares decades of insight from scaling sustainable, people-first kids programs.
🎧 In this episode, we cover..
00:00 From law to kids programs
02:59 Why retention isn’t cheaper but is more controllable
04:19 How starting kids young creates a massive long term advantage
13:41 How to design a real journey instead of just filling classes
16:51 Why showcases, branding, and community matter more than most realize
20:42 What makes programs truly sticky inside and outside the gym
25:57 The hidden drop off points gym owners accidentally create
29:47 Why evaluations and leveling up can trigger cancellations
33:37 How marketing the outcome, not the activity, changes everything
37:42 Summit and learning from the best
41:02 Sweet Peas Gymnastics and early childhood licensing
📍 Learn more
Summit Event: https://thesummiteducation.com/
Sweet Peas Gymnastics: https://sweetpeas.com/become-a-licensee/
Cali Elite Kids Programs: https://calelite.com/
